Every year, around October or November, Hindus all around the world partake in a centuries-long tradition called Diwali. Notorious for Bollywood music, delicious food, and sparkling firecrackers, Diwali brings families and friends together in celebration. On Friday, Oct. 21, Swarthmore’s Deshi club,
The Muslim Students Association (MSA) is preparing for Ramadan, the Muslim Holy month that requires fasting from food and drink from dawn to sunset, carrying deep spiritual signifigance for Muslims. This year, Ramadan will last from the evening of April 1 to
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG. Editorial note:
When it comes to observing cultural holidays while at Swat, being away from my home and family has always been a challenge. No matter the occasion, I always find myself defying conventional traditionalism and celebrating a filtered-down, dorm-room-makeshift interpretation of the holiday.
February marks the beginning of Black History Month, a month dedicated to the act of remembering and acknowledging. In other words, it is meant to celebrate black life and cultural contributions to all that is America. Much like other heritage months, black
The holiday season is upon us, and all the craziness has started. Many people are excited about being off of school for a month or off work for some time. Holiday parties, mad rushes to the stores, trimming of the Christmas tree,
As holidays go, Hanukkah falls short in several respects. “Let’s all listen to that great Hanukkah-themed song!” says no one. Where it excels, however, is in its ability to sustain the pleasure of gift-receiving for eight days, while Christmas blows it all
For many families, tradition dictates the holiday seasons. Whether it’s the breaking of the wishbone, cooking a special family recipe or cheering for favorite football teams, Thanksgiving traditions tend to make the holidays feel cozier, maintaining an air of familiarity in the
In the recent past, it has become the widely adopted view that the term “Black Friday”— applied to the (shopping) day after Thanksgiving — got its color from the effect it has on retailers, pushing them out of the red and into
Now that it’s the beginning of December, the holiday season that starts with Halloween and culminates in the Hallmark-sanctioned lovefest of February 14, is currently in full swing. While some people bemoan this annual occurrence for its forced cheer and seemingly incessant
